Showing results by author "Josie" in All Categories

I’ve never seen anyone at a public pool with a memorable enough body, good or bad, that I think about it ever again. If this line sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve heard it in the background of thousands of videos on social media—a humbling reminder from poet and radio personality Josie Balka that what’s important in our lives now isn’t necessarily what’s important to us in the long run. I Hope You Remember, Josie’s first book of poetry, includes this poem and over eighty others, some previously published and others never shared before.

Eleanor, the charming manager of a cozy tea shop, enjoys the transportive ritual of making a cup of Masala Chai tea, reminisces about the tea's origins, and delights in the beauty of her quaint English village during the holidays. Bedtime stories are narrated by the world's most celebrated voices and written with no beginning, middle, or end so you don't stay up to hear what happens next. They're interesting enough to give your mind something to focus on, but delivered in a way that encourages sleep.

Laurie is sure love at first sight doesn't exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there's a moment of pure magic...and then her bus drives away. Certain they're fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. But she doesn't find him, not when it matters anyway. Instead they "reunite" at a Christmas party, when her best friend, Sarah, giddily introduces her new boyfriend: the man from the bus.

Spending her thirtieth birthday alone is not what dating columnist Cleo Wilder wanted, but she plans a solo retreat―at the insistence of her boss―in the name of re-energizing herself and adding a new perspective to her column. The remote Irish island she’s booked is a far cry from London, but at least it’s a chance to hunker down in a luxury cabin and indulge in some self-care while she figures out the next steps in her love life and her career.

Gavin Wilkes is rugby’s biggest star and my older brother’s best friend. He’s tall, dark, handsome… and a notorious player—not just in the sportsball way. For years he’s teased me—flirted with me as a joke—and I’m tired of it. So the night of my parents’ annual Christmas party, I call his bluff, never expecting him to take me up on it.

Lydia and Freddie. Freddie and Lydia. They’d been together for more than a decade and Lydia thought their love was indestructible. But she was wrong. On Lydia’s 28th birthday, Freddie died in a car accident. So now it’s just Lydia, and all she wants is to hide indoors and sob until her eyes fall out. But Lydia knows that Freddie would want her to try to live fully, happily, even without him. So, enlisting the help of his best friend, Jonah, and her sister, Elle, she takes her first tentative steps into the world, open to life - and perhaps even love - again.

Never rent an apartment over the internet. I learned that lesson the hard way. Turns out the sweet two bedroom I was thrilled to make mine is actually smack dab in the middle of a retirement community. Now instead of enjoying Florida’s night life, I’m helping Mrs. Hill find her missing hearing aids and showing Mr. Frazier how to use his television remote for the millionth time. But it’s fine. They look out for me and I look out for them. Which is how I end up wedged in a broom closet with Mr. Frazier’s sexy as sin nephew.

Who’s the stunning blonde with legs for days? Oh h*ll… My best friend’s daughter is my new assistant. She’s sassy, sun-kissed, and way too young for me. From the moment she walks into my office, My d*ck comes to life in a heartbeat. My best friend entrusted me to give her good working experience, Not bend her over my desk. She thinks I hate her. I’m just trying not to cross a line. Stolen moments, tangled sheets, her perfect body underneath mine… Her southern drawl and smart mouth push all my buttons, Unearthing feelings I’d buried for a decade. I’m too old and jaded for ...

Born into a large, close-knit family in Nicaragua, Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez grew up surrounded by strong, kind, funny, sensitive, resilient, judgmental, messy, beautiful women. Whether blood relatives or chosen family, these tías and primas fundamentally shaped her view of the world—and so did the labels that were used to talk about them. The tía loca who is shunned for defying gender roles. The pretty prima put on a pedestal for her European features. The matriarch who is the core of her community but hides all her pain.

When Iris decides to move to New York to restart her life, she realizes she underestimated how big the Big Apple really is—all the nostalgic movies set in New York she’d watched with her mom while eating their special secret-recipe gelato didn’t quite do it justice. But Bobby, Iris’s best friend, isn’t about to let her hide away. He drags her to a famous autumn street fair in Little Italy, and as they walk through the food stalls, a little family-run gelateria catches her eye—could it be the same shop that’s in an old photo of her mother’s?

Cord Spellman might be everyone's Prince Charming, but I'm only his fake Cinderella. That's why Cord's offer is perfect. The hot hockey star has playoffs coming up. He doesn't have time for girls, especially his cheating ex who's determined to get back together with him. He needs to focus on his game, so he asks me to divert the attention—as his fake girlfriend.

Hard-boiled detective series author Hugh Hudson has been at the top of his game for over a decade. But when his luminous wife dies suddenly, he finds himself channeling his grief into writing a beautiful romance novel, an ode to his late love never intended for publication. Until, that is, his long-time editor sneaks a peek at the manuscript and knows it's the unicorn story she's been waiting for. He’s eighteen months late delivering his next detective novel, so she throws him a lifeline—if he lets her publish the love story, she can get him an extension.

Lisette lives in East Berlin but brings her new-born baby to a hospital in West Berlin. Under doctor's orders, she goes home to rest, leaving the baby in the care of the hospital. But overnight the border between East and West closes, slicing the city - and the world - in two. With a city in chaos and armed guards ordered to shoot anyone who tries to cross, her situation is desperate.

There’s something 100 percent off about Maggie and her fiancé Sam’s new dream home in the historic section of St. Stanley. The lights flicker, the doors blow shut, and their cat, Marshall Dillon, hisses at empty space. And there’s something in the basement that’s definitely not a bargain...After Maggie discovers a skeleton in the root cellar, she’s convinced her house is haunted by a murdered man’s ghost. With the help of her Good Buy Girls, Maggie works to tag a killer.

As the new girl from the south side of town going to a prestigious academy for my senior year, I never expected welcoming open arms. But the bloody nose on my first day was a surprise. And the threat. And the...well, let me just say behind the botoxed smiles and shiny sports cars were the worst sort of people. And there was one that brought them to their knees. One who ruled Green Hills Academy like the monarchs he descended from. Knight King hated me. Hated what I represented. Hated that I wasn't wealthy and that I dared to enter his world.

Shea's my best friend's sister . . . and the only girl I've ever wanted. She's always had a boyfriend, though, so I've been able to keep my distance. Now she's single. As her friend, she asks me to help her navigate our campus dating scene. Of course, I agree. I promised her brother I'd keep her safe—and keep my hands to myself. The only problem? The more time I spend with her, the harder it is to deny how I feel. Except I'm holding my life together by a thread.

Mr. Tattooed, Dark, and Grumpy was supposed to be a one night stand. So how the hell did I end up becoming the nanny… Dressed to kill in all black, Dropping bills like he owns the place. I'm glad I didn't wear panties because they would be destroyed. A bit of fun was all I expected that night. End of story. Until I show up to the nanny interview, and it's him. We clash like oil and water during the day. And ruin the sheets at night. He's already got two sweet daughters of his own and would never settle down. So where does that leave me and MY baby bump… Buckle up for a ride with a foul-...

Phaedra Morgan is one of the best race engineers in Formula 1. She’s a math prodigy with dazzling skill, cutting wit, and no patience for matters of the heart. Of course, her job would be a lot easier if she didn’t keep butting heads with their team’s cocky and infuriatingly hot new driver. Cosmin Ardelean is intense and committed, but as famous for his off-track romantic exploits as his on-track wizardry. Yet his devil-may-care façade conceals a haunted past.

Booze, boys, and backstage passes. What could go wrong? Turns out, a lot. Jackson Whiss is the living embodiment of a true rock ‘n’ roll bad boy. An alpha who takes what he wants. Demanding. Savage. And spoiler alert: he wants me. But not for the reason that you think. This jerk only needs a fake relationship to leverage my good-girl image. But in exchange, he’ll erase my student loan debt. What starts as a straightforward business deal, Ends backstage with tangled limbs, urgent strokes, and a low growl, “You’re mine.” We’re fire and ice, a match made in chaos. And toying with...

After centuries of conflict, a peace treaty has finally been drawn between the warring Saxons and Norse—largely due to the wisdom and bravery of the legendary Viking leader Wolf Hakonson and the noble warrior Lord Hawk. Hawk and Wolf each married women from warring clans to unite the Saxons and Norse. But for all its blessings, the promise of peace will remain fragile—unless it can be sealed forever by a third and final marriage between these two proud clans.